The International Data Corporation (IDC) has released its latest quarterly figures showing the state of the global smartphone market, and for the second quarter in a row growth has been flat compared to the same period last year.

Back in April, in the IDC reported that smartphone shipments for the first quarter of the 2016 had increased by just 0.2 percent compared to Q1 2015. And with the second quarter showing year-on-year growth of just 0.3 percent, it seems we’ve hit a peak saturation point.

Again, Samsung remains the top manufacturer with 77 million units shipped, a 5.5 percent increase from the 73 million units shipped during the same period last year. The Korean company moved more units than second-place Apple and third-placed Huawei combined.

Samsung’s overall market share has jumped 1.1 percentage points to 22.4 percent, almost double Apple’s 11.8 percent share. Q2 was the Korean company’s most successful quarter in two years, thanks mainly to the popularity of its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones.

Apple was the only company in the top five that saw both its YoY market share and shipments fall. The iPhone-maker’s shipment volumes dopped15 percent from 47.5 million units to 40.4 million, while its market share retracted from 13.9 percent to 11.8 percent. Despite the decrease, IDC did note that the 4-inch iPhone SE captured many first-time buyers and Android users looking to switch over from Google’s ecosystem.

Vendor

2Q16 Shipment Volumes

2Q16 Market Share

2Q15 Shipment Volumes

2Q15 Market Share

Year-Over-Year Change

Samsung

77.0

22.4%

73.0

21.3%

5.5%

Apple

40.4

11.8%

47.5

13.9%

-15.0%

Huawei

32.1

9.4%

29.6

8.6%

8.4%

OPPO

22.6

6.6%

9.6

2.8%

136.6%

vivo

16.4

4.8%

9.1

2.7%

80.2%

Others

154.8

45.1%

173.6

50.7%

-10.8%

Total

343.3

100.0%

342.4

100.0%

0.3%

It was more good news for the Chinese-based phone manufacturers. Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo retained their 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions, with all three companies seeing YoY increases in shipments and market shares. Oppo showed the biggest improvement; its shipments jumped 136.6 percent compared to the same period in 2015.

We’ll have to wait and see if the market picks up later in the year. Samsung’s next Galaxy Note could give overall sales a boost, but the rumored lack of new features on the iPhone 7 may be a problem for Apple; a recent survey saw 46 percent of current iPhone owners say they wouldn’t at all be likely to upgrade if it didn't have a brand new design.

I sure may; but without the inclusion of a removable battery, I'll be keeping my wallet closed - even though I don't want to. Now that is weird! how many people out there want to spend money but aren't allowed to!?!? lol
I guess I need to thank samsung for that

I sure may; but without the inclusion of a removable battery, I'll be keeping my wallet closed - even though I don't want to. Now that is weird! how many people out there want to spend money but aren't allowed to!?!? lol
I guess I need to thank samsung for that

Click to expand...

I felt the same way about removable batteries for a very long time.
SD card slot as well. Having the ability to swap out a poorly performing battery was key to me,
making self serviceability a key value point. In reality though, of all the phones I've owned that have
had removable batteries - none required the swap during their useful life.

The S7 Edge I purchased in March is a stellar device.
Touch-Wiz finally fixed in my mind and the rest of the device speaks for itself.

I sure may; but without the inclusion of a removable battery, I'll be keeping my wallet closed - even though I don't want to. Now that is weird! how many people out there want to spend money but aren't allowed to!?!? lol
I guess I need to thank samsung for that

Click to expand...

I felt the same way about removable batteries for a very long time.
SD card slot as well. Having the ability to swap out a poorly performing battery was key to me,
making self serviceability a key value point. In reality though, of all the phones I've owned that have
had removable batteries - none required the swap during their useful life.

The S7 Edge I purchased in March is a stellar device.
Touch-Wiz finally fixed in my mind and the rest of the device speaks for itself.

Click to expand...

Also remember that a removable battery means a upgradeable one. My note 4 is amazing with a 10000 MaH juicer in it. Cant do that with a note 5 or 6/7

If you think about it, Samsung's domination of the world's cell phone market is pretty amazing when you consider the stiff competition with Apple for the high end and the stiff competition with everyone else for the low end. And now with the S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung finally got their act together on the high end and their quarterly results reflect it. It also looks like they're now nearly splitting profits with Apple in the short term.